Vending machine



July 19, 1932. E, SANDBERG 1,868,222

VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov, 13, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l l m 34 EGNAR JAZZ/9572B:

ATTOkNEYJ July 19, 1932.

E. SANDBERG 1,868,222

VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1929 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 jm/anior EGNAEJANDBEEG July 19, 1932. El SANDBERG VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A A 5 aw W 5 Patented July 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PAT N EGNAR SANDBERG, or MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, AssIGNoR or ONE-T D T0 ALBERT G. SANDBERG AND ONE-THIRDTO MARK D. 30mm,- BOTH or MINNEAPOLIS, MINNIE- SOTA VENDING MACHINE Application filed November 13, 1929. Serial no; 406,814; a

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in vending machines An object of the invention is toprovide an improved vending machine adapted for a. vending such articles as newspapers, maga zines and the like, including a conveyor comprisinga plurality of fingers or rods spaced apart to provide compartments adapted to receive the articles to be vended,

- and the operation of said conveyer being controlled bymeans of a coin-actuated mechanism.

A further object is to provide a coin-actuated mechanism'so designed that a plurality of coins must be inserte'd' thereinto before it can be operated to cause an article to be vended.

A further object is to provide such a coinactuated mechanism having means whereby it may be adjusted so that a certain number of coins must be inserted thereinto before it can be operated to cause the ejection of an article.

Features of the invention reside in the general construction of the conveyer; in the means provided in connection therewith to indicate when the vending machine is empty; in the general construction of the coin-actuated mechanism; in the means provided for locking the ratchet wheel of the mechanism when the coin chute is empty; and; in the means provided whereby the mechanism may be adjusted so that a certain number of colns must be inserted into the coin chute before the mechanism can be operated to discharge an article from the vending machine. V

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following descriptionand accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, therehas been disclosed a structure designed tocarry out the various objects of the invention, but 1 it is to be understood that theinvention is not confined to the exact features shown as various-changes may be made Within thescope of the claims which follow In the drawings:

F igure 1 is a detail sectional View on the line l1 of Figure7, showing the coin-actuated mechanism in normal position; 4

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 22 of Figure l, showing the mechanism adjusted so that three coins must be inserted thereinto before it can be operated, and also showing the mechanism par,- tially operated to release the ratchet wheel;

igure 3 is a view showing the mechanism after having been operated to ejectanarticle from the vending machine; a 'Figure 4 is a sectional plan view on the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a vertical line 55 of Figure 2; a

s Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view showing a vendingmachine with the invention sectional view on the embodied therein;

Figure 7 is asectional 7 'of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a detail view showing a portion of the exterior of the machine casing and the means provided for indicating when the machine is empty; 7 t

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the means provided for adjustin'g'the mechanism plan view ontheline 70 so that a certain number of coins must be inserted thereinto before itcan be operated;

and i V i r j FigurelO is an enlarged detail viewvshowmg a manner of connecting'the fingerstothe chain links. 7 I V i y In the selectedembodiment of the invention here shown, there is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, a vending machine including a casing comprising end walls 2 and3; side walls 4, a'bottom 5, and a top wall 6 preferably hingedto'the end wall 2,.as indicated at 7 in Figured The casing is shown supported upon suitable legs 8. e I

VA feature of the invention'residesin the means provided for supporting the articles to be vended which includes endless chains 9 thereon as shown in- Figure 6.

' fingers 11 will for connecting together adjacent links, The

offset portion 12' of each finger 11is suitably secured to one of the links to prevent relative rotation of the portion 12 and whereby the conveyer chains 9 are supported at one end by idlers 1'3randat' their opposite ends by sprockets1 4 secured to. a shaft 15 rotatably mounted in suitable bearings anism which controls I ing through a slot 26 inthe front the machine casing,-as shown in Figure 6. An

Another feature; of theinvention resides in the construction of the coin-actuated mech the operation of the conveyer chains 9; This mechanism comprises a ratchet wheel16 secured to the shaft 15 and adapted to be rotated by a dog 17 having one xend pivotally connected to an oper? ating bar 18;moun'ted within a housing 19 and supported in suitable-slides 21 and 22,'shown in Figures 2 and'3. The operatingbar 18 has oneend projecting through the front wall 3 of 'the casing and is, provided witha hand grip 23 whereby a purchaser, after having deposited the necessary number of coins in the coin chute 24, may-pull the bar 18 outwardly from the position shown in Figure 2 tothat shown in Figure 3,,thereby causing the ratchet wheel 16 to be rotatedwhich, in turn, will actuate the conveyer chains 9'to cause an article to be discharged onto an inclined plate 25 having its lowerend project wall 3 of upstanding flange 27 is providedat thelower end of the plate 25 to "temporarilysupport A suitable g the vended article on the plate; compression spring 28 is shown coiled about thebar 18 and has one end bearing against apin29 secured to the bar and its opposite I end against awall of the housing 19.' This spring constantly urges the bar18 in a directiontowards the right when viewedas shown in Figures 2 and 3, and normally holds the a bar in the position shown in Figure 1'.

The means provided for locking the coinactuated V mechanism against operationfwhen the' coin chute is empty or whenan insufficientnumber of'coins have been deposited inthe chute,consists of alocking pawl 29 pivoted at 31 to a'wall of'the'housing19 and having one end pivotally' 'connected to aslide 32 supported in uidesaI h oppo endbf the offset be retained in upright positions upon the-upper: runs of the chains 9, as shown in Figure 6. The fingers 1L cooper?" atejto provide individual holders or compartments for the articles to be 'vend'ed. 'lhe the pawl 29 is adapted to engage pins 34 provided in one side of the ratchet wheel 1 6 as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4. When the parts are in normal position, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the edge 35 of the slide 32 cooperates with the edge 36 of a relatively longer slide 37 to provide portions of the end walls of the coin chute 24 as will be noted by reference to Figure 3. A suitable tension spring 38, shown in'Figures'land 4, normally retains theslide 32 in the positionIshown in Figure 3, wherein'it will be noted that the lower end of the pawl 29 the pins 34 and, thus preventsrotation of the ratchet wheel 16. 7 I

Therelatively longer slide 37 is supported in a guide 39' substantially alined with the guide. 33 for the slide 32, and has a portion cutaway asindicated at 41 in Figure 3. latch member 42 is pivotally mounted on the slide 37 by means of, aipin' 43, and'has a {no jection 44 adapted-to eng'agea projection '45 provided at theright-hand-end of; the slide 37 as shown in Figure- 3. The projections 44 and 45 cooperate to of the latch member 42 which is constantly urged upwardly by the action of'af suitable spring 46Jhaving one end secured to the slide The swinging end of the latch member 42 is adapted to project through a slot or opening 47 provided in, the guide 39, as shown inFigures 1, 2, and 3. A pin 48 is mounted in bracket 49 secured to the'operating bar 18 andisadapted to engage the end 51 ofthe latch'me1nber42 and move the slide 37 in a direction towards the coin chute when the operating bar 18 is pulled outwardly. When the bar 18 is thus pulled outwardly,the uppe'r'edge of thelatch memmoveddownwardly against the action of the spring-46, causing its end portion 51 tobe moved out of engagement with the pin'48. A

limit upward movement upper portionof the is positioned in the path of suitable tension spring 53'constantly urges the slide-37 in a direction away from the coin chute so that when the pin 48 becomes disenag-ed fromthc'e'nd5l' of'the latch member 42 the slide 37 willbe" returned to its normal position against a stop 54 by the action of the spring'53'. When the operating bar 18 is in its normal' position as shown in Figure 1, the pawl'29 will be positioned in the "path of the pins 34 of the ratchet wheel 16, thereby positively preventing the operating bar 18 from being pulledoutwardly-until the cor V rect number of coins have been'deposited in the chute 24, in the present instance, three.

Another important feature of this invention resides in the means provided for adjusting the mechanism so thata certain number of coinsmust be depositedin the coin chute 24 before the mechanism can be operated; This means is best' shown in Figures 2,"

3, 5, and 9, and comprisesa plate 55 here the depending portion 59 of the coin chute 24, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The offset portions 57 and 58 are provided with apertures.

61 adapted to receive suitable pins 62 secured to the end walls of the chute 59 to providea hinged connection between the plate 55 and the chute. A plurality of spaced slots 68, 64, 65, and 66 are provided in the plate 55 adapted to receive tongues 67 and 68 provided upon a coin stop member 69, which is adjustably mounted upon the plate 55 by means of the tongues 67 and 68 and a pair of upturned lugs 71, preferably struck out of the metal forming the plate 55. The lugs 71 have their end portions bent in parallel relation to the plate 55 and spaced therefrom so as to re ceive the stop member 69 as best shown in Figure 9. In Figure 9, the member '69 is positioned so that the mechanism will require three coins to'be inserted into the chute 24beforeit can beoperated to eject an article from the Vending machine (see Figure 2). Referringto Figure 5, it will be noted that the tongue 67 is relatively'longer than the tongue 68 and is adapted to project through one of a plurality of slots 7 2 provided in the adjacent wall of the chute 59. V

The offset portion 58 of the plate 55 has an upstanding portion 73 which extends upwardly back of the guide 39, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and is provided at its upper end portion with an inclined lip 74 normally positioned in the path of the leading edge 75 of the bracket 49. When the operating bar 18 is pulled outwardly, the leading edge 75 of the bracket 49 will engage the inclined lip 74 and cause the lower end of the plate 55 to be swung outwardly, as indicated bythe clotted lines in Figure 5, thereby moving the tongue-67 out of the path of the lowermost coin positioned in the chute 59, whereupon the three coins will drop by gravity intoa coin receiving box 76 secured to a side wall 4 of the vending machine, as shown in Figure 6. As soon as the purchaserreleases his grip on the operating bar 18, the spring-"38 will return the bar to its normal position, shown in Figure 1, and the plate 55 will be returned to its normal position as shown in full lines in'Figure 5. The plate 55 may be returned to its normal position either by gravity or eye suitable spring.

Means are provided for manually moving the dog 17 out of engagement with the ratchet 16 so that theconveyer may be returned to its starting position, shown in Figure 6. Such means is here shown as consisting; of a lever 77 supported upon a pivot 78 and having one end of a link 79 pivotally connected therewith as best shown in Figure 2. The lower end of. the. link 79 is shown provided with an offset flange 82 positioned beneath the I dog 17 in such manner that when the dog is in its normal "position, as shownin Figure 1, and the lever 71 is depressed, the flange 82 on the lower end of the link.79 Will engage the dog and move it upwardly outof engagement with the teeth 'of the ratchet wheel 16, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure l. VJ hen the dogis thus positioned, the

conveyer may be manually returned to its normalstarting position so that the fingers 11 top wall 6. The shaft 15 is shown provided n will be positioned directly beneath the hinged V with a-squared end 83 adaptedto receive a suitable crank 84 as indicated'by the dotted lines in Figure 7 This crank may be insert- F ed through a suitable aperture provided in the side wall of the casing.

Means are also provided for indicating when the vending machine is empty of articles. Such means is shown in Figures 1 and 8 and comprises. a: plate 85positioned to close an opening 86 provided in the front wall of the machine casing, as clearly shown in Fig ure 8. Upon the plate 85 may be printed the name of the article being dispensed, and" directly beneath the name of the article on the same plate, the word Empty is printed as indicated in dotted'lines'in Figure 8.

When one or more of the compartments formed by the'spacedfingers 11 on the conveyer chains 9 are filled with articles, the plate 85 will be positionedas shown in Figure 8, but as soon as the last article has been vended. the plate will be elevated so that the word Empty will appear in the opening 86,

thereby indicating that all the articles or I papers have been sold. The plate85 is also provided with an offset portion 87 adapted to close the coin slot 24 when the plate is moved upwardly to indicate that the machine is empty, thus preventing anyone from inserting coins into the coin chute when the machine is empty.

The means provided foroperating the plate 85 is shown in Figure land consists of a lever 88 pivotally mounted upon a pin 89 secured to the side wall of the casing. The

end portion 91' of the arm 88 has the lower end of a connection 92 connected therewith,

' the upper end of which is secured to the plate 85. The connection 92 is slidably supported in a suitable guide 93 shown in dotted lines in Figure 8. The opposite end portion 94 of. I

the lever 88 is positioned in the path of a rod 95 secured to the conveyer chains 9 as shown in Figures 6 and 7. When the last article supported upon the conveyer has been discharged onto the inclined plate 25, the projecting end of the rod 95 will strike the end a portion 94-of the lever 88 andmove it to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1, whereby the plate 85'will be moved upwardly so that the word. Empty willappear in the opening 86. I At the same time, the coin slot 24 will be closed by reason of the projection 8"? being movedupwardly to the dotted line position shown in Figure 8.

in the operation of this novel vending machine, the member 69 ispositioned upon the plate so that a predetermined numberof coins-must beinserted into the coin chute24cbefore the mechanism can be operated to eject an article. Inthe present instance, the mem jber 69 is shown positioned for three coins.

When three coins have been inserted into the coin chute, the operator may grasp the grip. rod 18 and pull 1t out;

23 of the operating, wardly, whereupon the slide 37 will be moved in a directionftowards. thecoin chute because of the pin 48engaging the'end portion 51 of the latch member 42. Such movement of the slide 37will cau'se'it to shove the top coin 0 shown in Figure 2.

movement of the operating bar 18 wall cause against the relatively sh'orter slide'32 which,

in turn, will cause the pawl 29 to be moved from the position shown in Figure 3 to that Continued forward the dog 17 to engage one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 16 and rotate the wheel one tooth, Before the forward movement of the operating bar is completed, however, the

, latch member 42: will be moved downwardly 38, thereby because of its upper edge engagingthe end 52 of the slot provided. in the upper wall of the guide 39, whereupon the spring 53 will immediately return the slide 37 to its normal position against the stop pin 54. Such movement of the slide 37 will permit the coin positionedbetwe'en the two slides to drop into the chute 59 and thence into the coin receiving boil 7 6, whereupon. the slide 32 will return to its normalposition by the action of the spring normal position in the path of the pins 34 provided on the ratchet wheel 16. During forward movement of, the operating bar 18, it is to be understood that the plate 55 carrying the coin arresting member 69 will be moved to an inoperative position because of the leading edge of the bracket 49 engaging the inclined lip 74 of theupstanding portion 73, of'the member 69. When theoperating baris returned to'its normal the plate 55 will also return to its position,

full lines in Fig normal position shown in are 5.

The position of the stop arresting member 69 upon the plate 55 may be quickly changed by simply moving the lug or offset end por-.

tion 68 out of the slot 66, whereupon the member 69 may be moved out of engagement with the lugs 71, after which it, may berenioved from the plate 55 and secured thereto in annecessitates the other position.

into the chute, the coin arresting member may be inverted upon the plate 55 sothat the big 67 will project through either the slot or the slot 66 When thus positioned, the offset operating causing the pawl to assume its If the article tobe vended' insertion of four or live coins endlportion 68 will be received ineither'the slot 63 or the slot 64- The novel coinactuated mechanism featured this invention is very slmple in operation and comprises few parts. The plate 55 and thecoin arresting member 69 provide 7 and coin stopmember 69, the mechanism may be adjusted so that it will be'necessary to insert six or more coins into the coin chute 24 before the machine can be operated.

I claim as'my invention:

1. A coin operated mechanism including a as the casema-y be. It will the ratchet wheel locking.

the ad acent ends of the ratchet wheel, an operatingbar having means 1 adapted to engage and rotate said ratchet wheel, a pawl normally positioned to prevent rotation of the ratchet wheel, a coin chute,

means connected with said pawl and. posr- V vtioned'adjacent to the coin chute, means adapted to be actuated by movement of said bar in one direction to cause a coin positioned in said chute to actuate the means connected with said pawl whereby said pawl will be moved out of locking engagementwith the ratchet wheel tOPGIIIllt rotation thereof upon continued movement of the operating bar, andmeans for returning saidcoin engaging means to its normal position before said operating bar has completed its forward stroke. I v r 2. A coin operated mechanism including a rotatable member, an operating bar, means thereon adapted to engage and rotate said member, a pawl normally positioned to prevent rotation of the member, a coinchute, means connected with sa1d pawl and pos1- tioned adjacent to said coin chute, a'slide adapted to be actuated by movement of said operatlngbar in one d rection to cause a coin positioned in said chute to actuate the means connected with said pawl whereby the latter will be moved out of locking engagement with the rotatable member to permit rotation thereof, a plate pivoted to the coin chute, acoin stop member on said plate, a lug on said stop member projecting into the coin chute to intercept the passage of coins therethrough,

means on the operating bar for causing said plate to be oscillated when the bar is operated, whereby coins retained in the chute will be discharged therefrom, and means onsa'id V plate wherebysaid stop member may be rel- 'atively adjusted. upon the plate so-that the mechanism will require the insertion of a predetermined number of coins into the coin I determined number of coins chudte before the operating bar can be operate 3. A coin actuated mechanism comprising a ratchet wheel, an operating bar mounted for slidingmovement and having a dog adapted to engage and rotate said ratchet wheelupon movement of the bar in one direction, a coin chute, a pawl normally positioned to prevent rotation of said ratchet wheel, a slide connected with said pawl and having one end positioned adjacent to said chute, a second slide substantially alined with said first mentioned slide and normally having one end spaced therefrom whereby a coin may be inserted between said slides, a pivoted latch member on said second mentioned slide, and means on said operating bar adapted to engage said latch member and cause the slide to be moved forwardly when said operating bar is operated, whereby a coin positioned between said slides will cause the pawl to be moved to an inoperative position to permit rotation of the ratchet wheel.

4. A coin actuated mechanism comprising a rotatable member, an operating bar having a dog adapted to engage and rotate said rotatable member upon movement of said bar in one direction, a coin chute, a pawl normally positioned to prevent rotation of said member, means connected with said pawl and having one end positioned adjacent to said chute, a slide substantially alined with said means and normally having one end spaced therefrom whereby a coin may be inserted between said slide and said means, a spring-actuated latch member on said slide, a pin on said operating bar adapted to engage said latch member and cause the slide to be moved forwardly'when said operating bar is operated whereby a coin positioned between said slides will cause the pawl. to be moved to an inoperative position to permit rotation of the rotatable member, and means whereby the mechanism can be adjusted so as to require the insertionof a preinto the coin chute before the operating bar can be operated.

'5. A coin operated mechanism including a rotatable member, an operating bar, means thereon adapted to engage and rotate said member, a pawl normally positioned to prevent rotation of the member, a coin chute, means connected with said pawl and positioned adjacent to said coin chute, a slide adapted to be actuated by movement of said operating bar in one direction to cause a coin positioned in said chute to actuate the means connected with said pawl whereby the latter will be moved out of locking engagement with the rotatable member to permit rotation thereof, a plate pivoted to the coin chute, means on said plate projecting into said coin chute to intercept the passage of coins therethrough, and means on the operat ing bar for causing said plate to be oscilslide normally spaced from said vice, a guide way for said slide, a spring- 1 lated when the bar is operated, whereby coins" retained in the chute may be ischarged therefrom. V

. '6. A coin opera ed mechan sm i dingj a rotatable member, an perat ng bar, means thereon adap ed o engage nd r ate said membe a pawl orma y" iosi i ned topre venttrotation of the m m r, a co nia l e, means. connected with ada ited to be. actuated connected with saidpawlwhereby the latter will be moved out of locking engagement with the rotatable member to permit rotation thereof, a plate pivoted to the coin' chute, a coin stop member adj ustably mountedon said late and having means projecting into the coin chute to intercept the passage of coins mounted'adjacent to said chute and adapted sa d pawl ant "PO51;

tioned a jacent o said coin chute; slide 1.-

v by mo ment of said 1 op rating bar ina e direc ion o cause p p sitioned in said chute o actuatehe m ans Cit to engage a coin, positioned therein, an ele ment on said slide normally positioned to be engaged by the operator whereby when acoin is positioned in saidchute and said operator 1s actuated,,sa1d locking device will be moved out of engagement with said driven member whereby the latter maybe operated,

and means for to its normal position before the operator completes its working stroke.

8. A mechanism comprising a member to be driven, an operator for said member, a locking device normally positioned to lock said driven member against movement, a coin chute, a slide positioned adjacent to said chute and having a portion adapted to enter the chute, means for temporarily retaining a coin in said chute between said locking device and said slide, an element 'movably mounted on said slide tioned to be engaged by the operator, whereby when the latter is actuated and a coin is positioned in said chute, said locking device operator before the latter reaches the limit of its forward movement.

9. A mechanism comprising a member to be driven, an'operator for said member, a

locking device normally positioned to lock said driven member against movement, a

locking decausing'said slide to return and normally posi-.

' 6 V amaze actuated latch on said slid'e having a portion normally offset therefrom and positioned to be engaged by said operator, means permit- 7 ting an instrumentality to be inserted between said locking device and said slide whereby, when the operator is actuated, said locking device will be rendered inoperative v and permit said driven memberto be moved, and means for moving said element out of operative engagement with said operator before'the latter completes its working stroke.

'In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of November, 1929.

V EGNAR SANDBERG. 

